"Your Hoppers Are There !"

Though they knew that it would only be a brief respite, Debbi and Carol were relieved that there was only a sparse group of people in the company parking lot when they emerged from the office. It was Easter Monday and so nobody was at work apart from Gilbert the security guard who was delighted to see the bizarre costumes being sported by the comely pair. Otherwise, apart from Diane and Aditty, the only people there were Stew, who was to drive the float, and Karen who would be taking further candid photos during the parade for the inside spread in the company magazine. Debbi knew though that many others from the company were likely to be lining the route of the parade, as well as friends from the pub, neighbors and who knew who else.

The float was festooned with ribbons and bedecked with flowers. There was a throne on which the Easter princesses Diane and Aditty would sit and they would throw flowers to the crowd from baskets of daffodils. "Where do we sit ?" asked Debbi, eyeing the float suspiciously. "Oh, you two go out in front ahead of us" explained Diane. "Your hoppers are there !"

"Our what ?" exploded Debbi, looking at two large inflatable balls painted to look like Easter eggs. "Your hoppers" replied Diane. "We thought as you were Easter bunnies it would be fun to have you bouncing along in front on those hop alongs. Like bunnies frolicking !" Diane struggled to keep a straight face.

"I'm not making a spectacle of myself on those" announced Carol, who recalled playing on a similar hopper they had bought for her daughter Charlotte ten or twelve years ago. Unlike Debbi who had never sat on one in her life but was quick to support her assistant. "Je-eff" Diane called out after the disappearing back of their boss who was headed for the start of the parade. "They're still not co-operating !" Jeff half turned. "Sorry, what was that ?" he yelled back, having not heard properly what Diane had said. "Don't worry" Debbi called hastily. "It doesn't matter." She turned back to Diane. "Cow !" she exclaimed. "What ?" laughed Diane innocently. "Anyway, you won't be on there all the time. Sometimes you'll be getting off to go into the crowd and distribute chocolate eggs" she continued. "I've never even sat on one before" Debbi complained. "Well then, have a little practice first around the car park" Diane suggested.